Electrical switch



Jan. 26 1926. Y Y- 12,570,655

C. E. WARNER ELECTRICAL SWITCH .original Filed Nw. 24, 1919 2 ,sheets-Sheet 1 Av1/EN TOR.-

Jano 7 c. E. WARNER ELEGTRIGAL swI'icH Original Filed NOV- 24. 1919 2 Sheets--Sheel- 3 Patented jan. 26, 1926.

UNITED s'm'rlazs YPATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER E. W'ARNER, 0F BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

Application filed November 24, 1919, Serial No. 340,337. Renewed May 9, 1925.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHESTER E. WARNER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Berwyn, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements' in Electrical Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, :torming a part or this specification.

My invention relates to electrical switchesY tailed description to follow and from the appended claims.

In the drawings in which one embodiment of my invention is shown- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pull switch socket embodyingmy invention, the cap'being removed;

Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the pawl member used to rotate the contact carrler;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the disc and contact carrier; and

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the movable contact member.

In order to give a general idea of the invention, it is here stated that the embodiment of my invention here shown comprises a pull switch socket having a pair of rotatably mounted contacts 10 and 11 (which, however, are always electrically connected with each other), a pair-of spring contact ngers 12 and 13 (insulated from each other l in the ci position of the switch and'with' respect to which the rotatably mounted contacts 10 and 11 respectively snap into and out of engagement in their rotation), wiring terminals 14 and 15 (the wiring termina 14 being electrically yconnected with the spring cont-act linger 12 and the wiring terminal 15 being electrically connected with the threaded shell contact 16 of the recept-acle), a center contact 17 for the receptacle electrically connected with the spring contact linger 13, an insulating base 18 on which the receptacle contacts, wiring terminals and switch mechanism are mounted, and a sheet metal casing 19 for housing the insulating base 18 and the parts supported thereby.

From the construction described, it will be seen that the spring contact fingers 12 and 13 are insulated from each other in the olif position of the switch; that the spring contact linger 12 is always electrically conl nected with the wiring terminal 14 and that the spring contact finger 13 is always elec trically connected with the center contact 17. It will also be seen that as the movable contacts 10 and 11 are rotated, t-he circuit between the wiring `terminal 14 and center contact 17 will be simultaneously broken at two points, thereby dividing the arc and lessening thev danger to the switch mechanism and preventing other undesirable effeots.

Referring to the construction in detail, the switch mechanism-is located inrecesses 20 in the insulating base 18. This Switch mechanism comprises in addition to the rotatably mounted contacts 10 and 11 and the cooperating spring contact fingers 12 and 13, previously described, a rotatably mounted contact carrier 21 of insulating material, an oscillatable pawl member 22 forming a switch lever, having a ratchet connec# tion with the cont-act carrier 21, and the .parts vof a curved sheet metal stamping 30, and are thus'permanently electrically connected'. The curved contact` platel 30 is,

provided with projections 31 thereon to engage in the notches 29 in the central web 28 of the contact carrier, and thus anchor the plate 30 in place. The-plate 30 has integrally formed inwardly extending projections 321thereon which engage in corresponding recesses 33 in the contact carrier to urther assist in this anchoring, The contact plate 30 may be secured tothe carrier by first insertingthe projections 32into the. receivingrecesses Brand springing the plate 30 so thatk the projections 31 yengage thez notches 29/,inrthe centralmveb 2S.

rllhe Contact carrier 2 1- has in operative connection therewith a disc member 34, this disc member` and contact carrier being both composedot'zsome suitable insulating material.. Saiddisc constitutes a tiange entende ing beyond .the periphery o't said carrier, this flangeV acting as aninsulating barrier be.- tween the conducting and operating partsl of theswitch mechanism.

The contactcarrier and disc are revolved by means of the, pawl member22 which may be actuated inany desiredmanner. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the p awl member comprises ametallic disc 35 titted with a biiurcated hookmember 36 adapted to receive the chain 25. The disc 35 has a central web portion 37 integrally formed therewith which has a. central opening 38 therein whereby the. pawl member may be loosely mounted on the switch shajft26. The pawl member 22 is` iitted withthe project ingpawls) and 40 whichpawls in theas-` sembly ofthe switch mechanism are placed adjacent the; 'tace 41 of the disc 54z The pawl member 22 also has outwardly projecgting prongs 42 and 43 which project from the opposite face oii the disc from which the pawls 39Y and 40 extend The pawl member22 has integralarcuate portions 44.and 45 which together constitute a chain rail 'for the chain 25. rlfhe pawl membei` is `preferably made from onerpiece of maf terial punched pand formed into the construction illustrated in Fig-. 6.

Eitheroneof the prongs 42 or, 43 can be utilinedto secure one end of the spiral spring 24 tov the pawl member 22, the spring 24 being'-concentrically` disposed with respect to the switch shaft 26l and having the offset end thereot' secured to the ledge 4Grprovided forY this purpose in the insulating base 18;.v Consequently, when the chain 25 isoperated, it will carry with it the pawl memberv 22y which, in turn, will tensionthe spiral spring 24.V The movement of the pawl meinberr22 is limited by a projection 47 located in the path of said member (Fig. 5). The foroi' saidlmemberwithrthe `projection 47 and the return movement of saidmember will be limitediby the engagement of. therhooh 36 with said projection 47.

The face of the contact carrier is equipped with lugs 49 'a-ndO which-cooperate with the notches'l and i2-ofL thel disc 34. When the dis@ 34is assembled with relation to the contact carrier 22, in which position the notchesland `52receivethe lugs 49 and 5() respectively, the construction is such that the thickness of the plate or dise 34 isthe 'same as the. highest point-53 (Fig. 7) ot the lugs 49 vand 5U respectively. It is evident, there.- iore, that when the disc and Contact carrier are assembled due to the tapered construe tion of the lugs 49 and 50 that the notched portions 51 and 52 will also beaccessible; to the pawl's-Band 4()` of the pawl member 22 whereby these three members, 21, Br-and 22 i The may be simultaneously operated.. spring 24,'servesthe double i'unctionof re` turning the. pawl member 22l after it has been operatedby the pullchjain and of exerting an expansive force whereby the pawlmen1ber22 is held snugly 1n pcsition against J thc tace 41 oi'the disc l34.

The central web `28 of the contact carrier,

serves not only to provide securingmeans also serves to holdthisspringcontact finger` andthe center contact in. place ony the bas-e 18.l

The wiring terminal 14, as previously staterh, is electrically connected with the spring contact finger 12, thiswiring terminal being held in position on the base 18 and in engagement with the lspring' contactfinger.

12 by means of a screw Each of the wiring terminals 14 and 15 is provided with the .usual binding screw 56,l the wiring terminal 15 being electrically connectedwith the threaded shell Contact 16 of the receptacle` by means oiga screw 57 (Fig. 2) which engages the flange 58 of the threaded shell Y,

Contact.`

The circuit trom the-wiring termina-l14 to the wiringterminal 15 h'asbeen outlined in connection with thedescription off the construction and is as follows: Fromwthe wiring-terminal14. through the spring c011-V tact finger` 12, the Contact 10, the curved plate.` 3.0 (which is integrally formedwith the contacts 10s-and 11) the contactll, the

spring Contacty lingerl, the screw Y54 to the.,

center contactev 17 through whatever f transe.

lating device is Vinserten t inthe.l receptacle `te the threaded ,f shell contact 1 6, and thence namens through the screw 57 to the wiring terminal 15.

As previously stated, when the switch is moved to off position, the circuitis simultaneously broken atl two points between the center contact and the wiring terminal thus dividing the arc.

The operation of my improved switch is as follows: Assuming that 'the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 4 (in which the switch is in off position) and it is desired to turn the switch on, the pull chain 25 is pulled down to move the pawl member through substantially 180 degrees. During this movement of the pawl member through 180 degrees, the contact carrier 21 also is moved through 180 degrees due to its ratchet connection with the pawl member. During this movement of the contact carrier 21, the spring contact fingers 12 and 13 ride upon the non-conducting cam portions`27 of the contact carrier and finally snap down into engagement with the curved contact plate. This simultaneously kmakes the circuit between the center contact and wiring terminal at two points. j

When the pull chain 25 is released, the spring 24 returns the pawl member to its original position, the contact carrier, however, remaining stationary during this return movement of the pawl member and pull chain, the ratchet connection between the pawl member and contact carrier permitting this return movement. The spring contact fingers 13 and 14 would prevent any return movement of the contact carrier by their engagement with the shoulders behind which they have just snapped. If now it is desired to turn the switch olf, the pull chain 25 is again operated, again causing the contact carrier 21 to be moved through 180 degrees. During this movement of the contact carrier 21, the spring contact fin'- gers 13 and 14 ride upon the curved contact plate 30 and upon the contacts 10 and 11, and finally snap ed from the rear of these contacts; this breaks the circuit simultaneously at two points between the center contact and its wiring terminal and divides the arc.

When the pull chain 25 is released, it and the switch lever are again restored to their original positions by means of the spring 24, the contact carrier 21 remaining stationary during this return movement, the spring contact fingers 13 and 14 again preventing any return movement of the contact carrier by engagement with the shoulders behind which they have just slipped.

As clearly illustrated in the drawings, the combination disc and contact carrier is positioned with its rotating axis transverse to the axis of the socket and to the direction of pull of the chain; consequently the chain 25 may be so positioned, as illustrated in Fig.

5, that the pulling'force exerted thereon is` communicated to the carrier 21 ina direct line without the necessityv of moving the chain through any curves or angles which is ordinarily necessary when the axis of rotation' of the disc and contact carrier is placed in the position substantially parallel to the axis of the socket.v lVith this construction a direct tangential pull is obtained. Further, since the Contact carrier is provided with but two cam surfaces and two l trated and described, but is capable of many variations and other applications within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch' socket having a vreceptable contact, a wiring terminal and means for establishing electrical connection between said receptacle contact andV said wiring terminal,

IOL)

said means comprising a rotatably mounted v insulating carrier having cams terminating in abrupt drops, contact plate carried by said carrier and covering one of the cams thereof, said plate having a pair of contact extensions, the carrier having a radially projecting barrier extending therefrom between said extensions, a spring contact finger electrically connected to said receptacle contact, a second spring contact linger electrically connected to said wiring terminal, both of said spring contact fingers being arranged to ride on said curved contact plate and to snap off its said extensions, said barrier being disposed to pass in between said contact lingers before said lingers leave said contacts and to separate said fingerswhen the latter snap oft' said extensions.

2. A switch socket having a wiring terminal, a receptacle contact and means for establishing electrical connection between said wiring terminal and said receptacle contact, said means comprising an insulating contact carrier mounted to rotate and having two cams of 180 degrees each, each cam terminating in a drop, avcurved contact plate secured on said contact carrier and covering one of said cams,'said contact plate having two contact extensions thereon, pair4 of Contact lingers, one of saidcontaet lingers beingeleetrically. con.-. nectedto the. wiring terminal, they other` being'l electrically connected tothe receptacle contact, saidlingers beingiarrangedto drop simultaneously upon said curved contact plate and to drop simultaneously off the same at the endsof the Contact extensions, and.4 an insulating barrier on the contact carrier so located with relationtothe. contact extensions as to separate thesame and also to separate the contact fingers from each. other when the latter' drop oil" the ends ot' the Contact extensions.

3. A switch socket having a. wiring terminal and a receptacle contact and means for establishing electrical connection between said wiring terminal and said receptable contact, said means comprising a rotatably mounted insulating contact carrier, means for advancing said carrier with a step. by step movement through 180 degrees-upon each actuation of the switch, saidV carrier having a fin-like insulating barrier extending radially therefrom, and extending only partially around said 'cari-ier, a curved contactv plate secured to said contact carrier and terminating in two contact' extensions, said curved contact plate being so located on said carrier that saidbarrier projects.- between said extensions, and. a pair,` of sta',-v tionaryp` contacts, one of which Ais :electrically connectedto said wiring terminaland an 1, waant otherio the receptacle contact, and arranged to lie upon opposite sides of said insulating barrier when saidcontacts leave saidfcurved contact plate.

4. A` pull switch mechanism. for. effectlng a double. breakin series comprisinga` rotatable commutator, a pulll member,` means a pair ot'. insulatingv camv portions, alpair. of

contacts co-operating with said. cams, each Contact being alternatively. engageable with a conductingcam and a non-conductingv cam, and means: rotatable with sadoommu.- Y

tatory for electrically connecting said spaced conducting cams.

5. A switch mechanism comprisinga rotatable commutator providedv with a biturcatedcontact, member, with an insulating barrier between said said. bifurcations extending, circumfereznY tially7 alongside each other and being spaced from each other along the. axis of the commutator, and a pair of SpacedcOntacts cof operatino. withy said bifurcations respec= tively,y said barrierI being movable inthe space between said contacts.

In witness whereof, I. have hereunto Vsubscribed .my name.

CHESTER E. WARNER.

bifurcations, 

